In the remote corners of naturea new phenomenon appears like a screaming alarm: the plastic rocks.
Discovered by scientists in different coastal regions, these formations, created by the combination of plastic waste and natural elements, represent a disturbing geological change.
Plastic rocks can now be found in nature
Plastic can fuse at a molecular level with natural rocks – Image: Rodolfo Buhrer/Reuters/Reproduction
According to IFLScience, plasticrust, a phenomenon first described in 2016, reveals the fusion of plastic with natural rocks, a direct result of the collision of waves loaded with trash against the coast.
Portuguese scientists spotted colorful rocks on the island of Madeira, where up to 10% of the stones were encrusted with polyethylene, a component present in PET bottles and packaging.
The discovery spread to several coastal locations, including Brazil, where geologist Fernanda Avelar Santos, from the Federal University of Paraná, claims to have witnessed the presence of these rocks on Trindade Island, in an interview with Reuters.
This astonishing transformation, she emphasizes, marks the intrusion of pollution in geology itself, directly impacting coastal ecosystems.
Uncertain impacts on marine life and terrestrial geology
The effect of these rocks on marine life is still uncertain. Plastic pollution becomes a new habitat for organisms such as barnacles and sea snails.
Furthermore, the confusion between plastic and algae can lead to the compound being ingested by some species, posing a serious danger to wildlife.
In addition to the immediate damage to marine fauna, the change in the planet’s geology raises questions about long-term impacts.
On a scale of billions of years, the planet is now witnessing rapid and drastic changes in its structure, all due to humanity’s rampant consumption of plastic.
Island in Espírito Santo has endangered marine life
Green turtles are being threatened in Espírito Santo – Image: LauraD/Shutterstock/Reproduction
Trindade Island, a natural landmark located far from the coast of Espírito Santo, now witnesses the disturbing presence of hybrid rocks.
Located close to a breeding area for green turtles, this ecosystem sensitive area suffers from the invasion of pollutants brought by sea currents.
The impact of plastic rocks, although it still requires more detailed studies, is undeniable.
The consumption of these materials by marine animals already represents an enormous risk to biodiversity, and recent evidence suggests that the presence of microplastics it is even infiltrating human organisms.
